ELASTIC-PLASTIC THERMAL-STRESSES AND DEFORMATION OF SHORT-FIBER COMPOSITES

A micromechanics model is proposed to analyse residual stresses and deformations that develop in short-fibre composites upon an applied uniform temperature change. The model is based on Eshelby's equivalent inclusion method and treats the interaction among fibres at finite volume fractions through the Mori-Tanaka mean field theory. The model treats the matrix as an elastic/plastic material while the fibre is elastic and is able to account for the effects of the composite microgeometry. To this end, the effects of misoriented short fibres, the orientation of which is described by a density distribution function, are considered. Numerical results obtained from the proposed model indicate that the misorientation of short fibres has a significant effect on both the stress and deformation behaviour of short-fibre composites.